Packers not done yet

This is going to be a weak argument. I’ll forewarn you. Following is the remaining schedule for the NFC North.

Packers: Houston, at Jax, at Chicago, Detroit

Vikes: at Det, at Arizona, Atlanta, NY Giants

Bears: Jax, New Orleans, GB, at Houston

There is one key factor right now, that may eventually play in favor of the Pack. If the Packers win against the Bears AND Detroit and win either or both of the other games, they would be in the best position for the divisional tie-breaker (MN and Chi would presumably finish 4-2 in the NFC North and GB would be 5-1 – and the Pack would already beat the Bears in head-to-head). Should the Pack tie for the NFC North’s best record at 9-7 or 8-8, the Pack would still have a chance to move on. Yes, not too likely right now, but there is still a chance.

Perhaps a more compelling reason the season may not end Dec 28th though, is that the Vikings have Frerotte and Childress. Last year, I spent much of my time ripping on Eli Manning only to have him put it in my face big-time in the NFC Championship and then the Super Bowl. And I have been ripping steadily on Childress and Frerotte this year so a very small part of me worries that I’ll be made to eat crow again. But the difference is that we’re talking about Childress and Frerotte. While Adrian Peterson and the Vikes’ D-Line do run interference with my hope for a massive late-season Vikings collapse…again…Frerotte and Childress restore that hope. Add to it the Vikings’ long history of choking and I’m getting foolishly excited again suddenly. Ok not really, but I’m not giving up just yet.

8 Responses to “Packers not done yet”

Not to be a total contrarian, but …. Atlanta and Arizona are returning to earth. To tie with the Vikings = Pack 4-0 and Vikes 2-2. To tie with Bears = Pack 4-0 and Bears 3-1. This implies of course GB wins in Chicago. MM needs to find out who can play and who cannot. Then begin the repair work.

Arizona may be returning to Earth, although they remain tough at home, and they will be hosting the Vikes. But how is Atlanta doing so? Last time I checked they were 8-4, having won 4 of their last five, including a pretty serious beat down over Carolina.

thought the same thing Bucky especially re Atlanta. Another issue may be that the Cards and the Giants may not give it their all because they most likely will have already clinched…which could make it extra tough.

DaveK – it would be something if anyone gets suspended. It would be fair because as far as I understand it, it was a violation of a clear policy, but I just don’t know if Goodell has the stones to do this. Man do I hope he does because that could really change these last 4 games.

I think the NFL is in a bind with this Star Cap situation. The league policy is that players are responsible for what is in their bodies…period. You can’t use the Barry Bonds excuse of not knowing what your trainer was giving you or that you did know what was in your supplement. The NFL has a list of approved supplements and Star Caps was not one of them. This should be clear cut but these players are making the argument that the NFL official in charge of this stuff knew Star Caps had a banned substance but did not warn players. I think this argument is silly. The players still took suplements that the league had not approved. I just don’t think the NFL has the duty to put out warnings on every possible supplement on the market. Players know they need to stick to the approved list and if they want to cut weight they should stop putting food in their pie hole and not use untested and non-approved supplements to cut weight.

The pickle for the NFL is that they have to suspend players and really hurt a team about to win their division when these players probably took Star Caps because they wanted to cut weight (for contractual reasons) and not because they wanted to mask steroids. Or, do they not suspend them and set a really bad precedent that there is wiggle room in the no tolerance drug policy. It is really a no win situation for the NFL. We’ll find out tommorow I guess.

At the risk of sounding like I’m sucking up to get back into the Hayes’ good graces, I have to say that I agree almost entirely with Andy. I have a hard time seeign the Vikings going any better than 2-2, and 1-3 is not out of the realm of possibility. Part of it is because the schedule is pretty damn tough, and part of it is that I simply don’t buy into Gus Frerotte and, to a lesser extent, Brad Childress. Sorry, but I watched Frerotte throw 3 picks against the Packers despite absolutely no pass rush; unless the Vikes simply refuse to throw the ball against the Falcons, Cards and Giants, he will turn the ball over.

Of course, catching the teams in front depends in no small measure on how well the Packers play. As I said before this weekend’s game, every game is winnable. However, from what we’ve seen of the Packers in recent weeks, they are all losable too, even the finale against the Lions.

If GB takes care of their own business, things will work out. But they have to start taking care of business. The margin for error no longer exists.

Thoughts:
1-Win over Panthers was critical. Packers make playoffs in inferior division if they had won.
2-Goodell will wimp out (Adam is Pacman again and still suiting up)-no Viking suspensions and Vikes finish 3-1 thereby clinching playoffs. Giants will be protecting players in season finale-could lose to Vikes.
3-Sorry Andy-harder to choke when offense is based on 30 carries for Peterson, 6 dumps to Taylor and defense has rock solid D line. Reduces likely mental errors.
4-Pack is not lucky this year like they were last year. Fumbles bouncing wrong way. Key injuries. Kick teams not special (exc Will B. on punts). The Pack will be back in 09. 10-6 or better.